All posts tagged Baauer

“The Simpsons” have spoofed Monty Python, Freddie Krueger and “Dr. Strangelove” in the couch gag that opens the show, now it’s time for their version of “Harlem Shake.” This Sunday’s episode opens with Homer’s parody of the “Con los terroristas!” sample that starts Baauer’s song, while baby Maggie shimmies on the couch in a helmet. When the drop hits, the scene shifts to the Simpsons flailing, and then the camera pulls back to reveal the denizens of Springfield doing the “Homer Shake.” It’s either a sign that the song has gone completely mainstream, or that the craze just passed its sell-by date.

During the week the Harlem Shake went bananas, Jasper Goggins went to the Grammys. The manager of the record label Mad Decent, which released the song “Harlem Shake” last spring, was attending the awards with Diplo, the DJ who owns Mad Decent and was nominated for producer of the year. On the morning of the Grammys, they saw that the track was at No. 80 on iTunes. By the end of the ceremony, it was passing No. 50.

Such is the experience of watching a hit happen in real time. As of this week, the song by the DJ and producer Baauer had hit No. 1 on iTunes in at least six countries (including Russia) and was atop the Hot 100, thanks to Billboard’s decision to include YouTube views in its tallies of the most popular singles in the nation.

It was a coup for Mad Decent, an indie label whose acts, including Major Lazer, Rusko and Zeds Dead, are making cutting edge music but aren’t found in the Hot 100. Still, even if Mad Decent wanted to capitalize on the Harlem Shake craze by releasing more music by Baauer, it can’t—Baauer isn’t officially signed to the roster of Mad Decent artists.

The DJ’s connection with Mad Decent shows how the label has positioned itself to benefit when its material catches fire in the wilds of YouTube. When “Harlem Shake” blew up, “We weren’t expecting it, but we were prepared for it,” Goggins says. Read More »

The “Harlem Shake” dance craze has gone viral and inspired a backlash quicker than you can say Macarena.

The meme on YouTube is based on a track by Brooklyn producer Baauer.

While the musician declined a request for an interview about the “Harlem Shake” YouTube explosion, he appears to be generally in favor of the video spinoffs, embedding them on his Tumblr and Tweeting links to his favorites.

Two weeks ago, actress and singer Patti LuPone grabbed a cell phone out of the hand of an audience member who was texting during a performance of her current play, "Shows for Days." The bold move led to an outpouring of support from fans fed up with glowing screens. Ms. LuPone gives us her five rules of theater etiquette.